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Baseball Hall of Fame: Maddux, Glavine, Thomas voted in

Associated Press

Posted:
01/08/2014 11:07:09 AM PST

Updated:
01/08/2014 10:26:11 PM PST

A new generation of starting pitchers and a self-proclaimed Mr. Clean of the Steroids Era will be ushered into baseball's Hall of Fame this summer. For tainted players, however, the doors to Cooperstown remain bolted.

Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas were elected on their first ballot appearances Wednesday, when Craig Biggio fell just two votes short.

Maddux and Glavine will join their former Atlanta Braves manager, Bobby Cox, at the July 27 induction along with Joe Torre and Tony La Russa, also elected last month by the expansion-era committee.

But Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and other stars whose accomplishments were muddied by accusations of steroids use lost even more ground, getting less than 40 percent in an election where 75 percent is needed.

FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2002, file photo, Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Greg Maddux delivers to a Florida Marlins batter in the first inning of a baseballl game at Turner Field in Atlanta. Mad Dog and Glav were fixtures in the Atlanta Braves rotation for years, and now they await word on another possible honor that will keep them together: induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser, File)
(Erik S. Lesser)

And on his first day as a member of baseball's elite, Thomas said the living members among the 306 Hall of Famers don't want those with sullied reputations.

"Over the last year, doing a couple of charity events with Hall of Famers that are in, they've got a strong stance against anyone who's taken steroids. They do not want them in. They don't care when they started or when they did it, they do not want them in," he said. "I've got to take the right stance, too. No, they shouldn't get in. There shouldn't be cheating allowed to get into the Hall of Fame."

Making their second appearances on the ballot, Clemens dropped from 37.6 percent to 35.4 in voting by senior members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, Bonds from 36.2 to 34.7 and Sammy Sosa from 12.5 to 7.2.

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Bonds, baseball's career home run leader, is the only seven-time MVP in major league history. Clemens is the lone seven-time Cy Young Award winner.

"As for what they did, I don't think any of us will ever really know," Thomas said. "But I can just tell you, what I did was real, and that's why I've got this smile on my face right now because the writers, they definitely got it right."

FILE - In this March 1, 2008, file photo, Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine throws a pitch against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a Grapefruit League spring training baseball game in Kissimmee, Fla. Mad Dog and Glav were fixtures in the Atlanta Braves rotation for years, and now they await word on another possible honor that will keep them together: induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
(David J. Phillip)

Mark McGwire, appearing for the eighth time, fell from 16.9 to 11 percent -- down from a peak of 25.6 in 2008. Rafael Palmeiro will be dropped from future ballots after falling to 25 votes and 4.4 percent -- below the 5 percent threshold necessary to remain eligible. One voter submitted a blank ballot.

Maddux and Glavine become the first primarily starting pitchers to enter the Hall whose careers began after Bert Blyleven, who debuted in 1970. Maddux reached the major leagues in 1986 and Glavine a year later.

They also are the first teammates on a starting rotation to be elected together since 1946. Add in Cox, and the induction will be dominated by Braves.

"It's fitting, given the influence those two guys had on my career," Glavine said. "The thing that would have disappointed me the most had it not happened would have been a lost opportunity to go in with Bobby and Greg."

Maddux, eighth on the career list with 355 wins, was picked on 555 of 571 ballots. His 97.2 percentage was the eighth-highest in the history of voting.

Glavine, a left-hander with 305 wins, appeared on 525 ballots and received 91.9 percent. Thomas, who hit 521 homers and is the first Hall of Famer who spent the majority of his career as a designated hitter, was at 478 votes and 83.7 percent. He spent 16 of his 19 seasons with the Chicago White Sox and all of the 2006 season and part of 2008 with the A's.

Maddux and Glavine will be the first pair of living 300-game winners to be inducted in the same year.

"It's exciting for me to go in with my teammate," Maddux said.

Biggio received 427 votes and 74.8 percent, matching Nellie Fox in 1985 and Pie Traynor in 1947 for the smallest margin to just miss. Traynor made it the following year, and Fox was elected by the old Veterans Committee in 1997.

Biggio, who spent his entire career with the Houston Astros, appeared on 388 ballots last year in his initial appearance -- when writers failed to elect anyone -- and appears to be on track to gain election next year.

"Obviously, I'm disappointed to come that close," he said in a statement. "I feel for my family, the organization and the fans. Hopefully, next year."

ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, JAN. 4-5 - FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2005 file photo, Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the start of Game 1of the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
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NAM Y. HUH
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Biggio topped voting at 68 percent last year in his first appearance, when the writers failed to elect anyone for only the second time in four decades.

He finished with 3,060 hits, 1,844 runs, 668 doubles and 414 steals. He set a big league record by getting hit with pitches 285 times.

"I was, like, shocked," Thomas said. "He was one heck of a player. It looks like he's going to get into the Hall of Fame in the future, but yeah, it's got to be a devastating day for him."

Mike Piazza had 62.2 percent, up from 57.8 last year. Jack Morris was 78 votes short at 61.5 percent in his 15th and final appearance on the writers' ballot.

Next year's vote will be even more crowded when Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Carlos Delgado and Gary Sheffield become eligible.